Folding box.



S. B. FIELD.

FoLmNG Box.

' APPLICATION FILED NOV- 20. |9I4. 1,162,466, Patented Nov. 30, 1910.

` 2 SHEETS-SHEET I. alFzL-I-l/ l :-j-:U -M40 r-=f=="===12"=1==1=a==f===w-F I M 5 II I[ INVENTEIR MTNEEEEE S. B. FIELD. FOLDING Bx.APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20, I9I4. 1,162,466. Patented Nov. 30, 1915. 2SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTEIR MTNEEEEE KMX/4m 'SAMUEL n. FIELD, or nonseaoon, mssaennsnrns,sesiones on cnn-nonnen To ennui/nario Seann consonancia, Linups, oFomnes, ,'Mnssncnnsniris, A confv rona'rion oF naine, ann THREE-sonnln'sTo Willmann; posits, on velninvfif,

License.

To all whom lif may concern.'

Be it known thatl, SAMUEL B. FIELD, citizen of the United States,residing at Heh brook, county of Norfolk, State of Massa.- chusetts,have invented a certa-in new and useful 'improvement in Folding Boxes,of which the following is a specification, reference being had thereinto the accompanying drawings. I

The invention relates to an improvement in folding metallic boxes toserve. as shipping cases in which the goodsmay be packed for shippingand which can be folded into small compass to bereturned to the shipperto be again used.

it has special reference to that class o such folding boxes in which thepanels each formed with an inner and an outer wall plate spaced apartfrom each other.

lt is especially applicable to that cla-ss of folding boxes abovedescribed in which the box is made of six panels in which the front ishinged to the bottom and to the two ends and the top or cover is hingedto the back, the front having a. separable connection with 'the top, andthe back having a separable connection with the bottom.

One object of the present invention is to provide a simple form ofinterengaging connection between the two end panels land the top andbottom panels to retain them in rigid form when the box is set up.. .Thetop and bottom each have a tongue groove connection with the two endswhich makes a tight joint and stiiens the box when the box is closed butwhich allows both the top and the bottom to turn on their hinges.-

- Another object of the invention is to pro-Y vide a simple form ofsafety lock and sealing device between the top and the iront, and

,between the bottom and the rear panel which can be easily applied whenthe box is to be sealed up after being iilled and which can be readilyremoved when the box is to bennpacled and which coperaties with th saidinterengaging connections between the two ends of the top and bottompanels to hold the box in rigid form whenset up and sealed. The seal isdestroyed in opening the box and thereby furnishes a tell tale toprevent anyone tampering with the box by opening the seal and closlng 1tagain unless he has an addltionalone of the special nonnina noz.

yforms of. sealing' clips, 'cli-psi themselves being simple and cheap sothat it is intended to use a new one everytime the bonis re. filled. y

The invention will be fully `4unde'srstood from the followingdescriptionftaken in connection with the accompanying drawings and thenovel features `thereof will be pointed out and clearly defined in theclaims at' 'the close of the specification` I,

In the drawings, :Figure l is a plan View of a box embodying theinvention.k Fig. 2 isa front elevation of the box shownin Fig. l-. Fig.3 is an end viewv of the box shown in Fig. i. Fig. '-.l is a section online'-'of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale but showing the sealingclipvslipped intoplac'e but before it is bent down into sealing form.Fig. 5 is aseotion on the same line 5--5 'of Fig. l after the cliphasbeen bent down into its sealing form. Fig. 6 is a. section on line6--6 of Fig. lv on, an, enlarged scaleand partly broken away. Fig. 7 isa detail planvof one ot the sealing clips shown in Fig. i before it isati' tached. Fig. 8 is a section on line 8-8 of Fig. 7. Y

Referring new to the drawings, the six panels referred to are the frontA, the backI B, the right and lelthand ends C and 'D respectively, thecover ci. top panel E, and the bottom F. The front A has a separableconnection with the top panel E by means of the sealing clipshereinafter to be described and the back B hasl a similar connectionwith the bottom/F. Each of the panels is K Patentetiiilov. 3d, 119115.Application :naa novemiqef 213,191.4. sentimentale. l

made with an inner w'all plate l and an outer lwall -plante' 2 having aspace between :them which is preferably braced or stiflened withcorrugated plates between the walls, as for instance, in the mannershown in Patent No. 941,01@ dated NovemberQB, 1909 or as shown inapplication filed by me July 19, 1913, Serf. No. 779,945 in the deviceof the present invent-ion,` however. in addition to the intermediatecorrugated plates thetop and bottom edges of the two end panels areprovided with channel plates et a special form which engage Abetweenthe'inner and outer wall plates and project-above and belowthe top andbottom edgesrespectivelv to interengage with channel plates of anotherspecial form which .constitute the ends of the top and bottom platesrespectively.

The frontA hinged to the bottom F and be folded up against the outerface of the frontend then the box can be Icollapsed by reason of thehinge connection ofthe two end panels with both the front and the back.

Any suitable form of hinge connection mayy be employed. Oneformofpsuitable hinge connection forthe doubley wall box is shown in myapplication Ser. No."779,945nabove mentioned. I j

'Inf the formofhinge connection between the panels shownfinithedrawings, the bottom panel F has onf its front edge a hinge pin .Q8-'andthe frontpanel A-has on itsbottom edge a hinge'pin'QQ. Said two hingepins are connected together by a series of links so thatvthe. bottomkpanel may be folded `-up against the front face of the front panel.`

The top'panel E has on its'rear edge a hinge pin 31 andfthe rear panel Bhas fon its upper edge a hinge pin (not shown) ,said two hingepins-being connected together by a series of -links32 in a similarmarmer to that in which the front and bottom panels are hinged-togetherso that the top panel E may be folded over .against the rear face of therear panel'fB.

The front panel 'A and the left-hand end. D as `viewed inFig. 2 arehinged together by a hinge pin `Svpassing through eyes '34 on the endedge ofthe front panel A and eyes 35 on the adjacent edge of the endpanel D. The rear edge ofthe opposite end panel C is hinged totheadjacent-,edge of the rear .panel B in asimilar manner to that' in whichthe front panel A 1s hinged to' the end panel D justfabove described.

They front panel A and theright-hand end panel C arefhlnged together bya hinge pin 36'whichpassesithrough` eyes 37 on the right-hand edgeoflthe front'panel A and through a series @of eyes 3S which proJect at a`vright angle voiset from the adjacent.

front end of thefend panelCfto allow the end panel C tofi'swing around`and fold against the innerv face of theyfront panel A whenthebox'iscollapsed. i "f panel'D are hinged' together'in a similar otherin another plane, the two planes being parallel with each other,andsuperimposed one upon the other.

The special form'of interengagmg connection between the two end panelsand the top `and bottom panels -is i shown with special clearness inFig. 6. The channel plate. 3 which fits into the space between the innerand youter plates 1, 2 of the end wall is formed with an upwardlyprojecting roll or fold 4 which extends upwardly some distance above theinner and outer plates l,

` 2 of the panel. The two sides of the lchannel plate 3 draw in towardeach 'other as they extend upwardly above the ends of the plates l, 2,as shown by the inclined portions 5, 5 and terminate'in the rounded orsemi-cylindrical portion 4, thusforming a tongue along the edge of thelend panel. In order to stillen the roll 4 thereis prefer-- ablyprovided a core 6 vof wire or other suitable material. f l K' The toppanel E which also .has an inner plate and an'outer-plate is formed witha notch or'groovein its underside near its outer edge which isvadaptedftol engage with the said roll 4 on the upper edge of the endpanel D. Any suitable form of construction of the top panel by whichsuch an inter-engaging notch is provided may be em ployed but thepreferred Vform of construction'is that which is shown in Fig. 6. Insaid Fig. 6 the inner land outer plates l, 2 terminate somewhat short ofthe end panel D and there is inserted into the space between s'aid twoplates 1, 2 a corrugated or bent channel piece 8 which fits snugly within the space between said two plates forming a party of the panel,y andis bent in such manner as to `form a groove or valley 9 on the undersideof thechannel'piece Substantially the full length of the end panel D.The outeredge portion of the panel E is formed with a cap p'late 10which overlies the projecting'portion 'of the channel plater 8 and issecured thereto iand is bent inward to forma groove 7'which engages with'the groovein theiinner face of the channel plate 8 whereby the saidVplate 10 is firmly secured 1 in place. Preferablyjthis groove is like abroad V, being shown as forming a right. angle.' The reason why it ispreferred to have the groove V shaped is. because the tonguema-kes4better contact with the sides` 8 as Iwell as the `other channel platesreferred to in the specication are all soldered or otherwise firmlysecuredlin proper place between theinn'er and4 outer plates so that theyshall not slip outL The said channel Jplatey'and 'cap plate' are both a'little shorter at each `end' than the end panels D of theV groove.-vThe purpose of .the cap .plate is 'to give additional. strength andtake the wear at the corners'. The channel plate meaaee top andbottom'to fill the gap', and the gap at the other end is filled by theangular filling plates at opposite corners 'both of the top panel E andof the lbottom panel F.

The lower edge of the end panel D and the contiguous portion of thebottom panel F are'constriictedin the same manner as the upper edge ofthe end panel D and the coengaging edge of the panel E above described.l llfhe end panel C is an exact duplicate of the end panel D and theco-engagmg portions of, the'top- E and of the bottom F therewith arealso constructed in the same -m'anner as the co-engaging portions ofsaid top and bottom panels which engage with the end Apanel D.

The `front edges of the plates l, 2 of the top panel E stop a littleshort of the inner face ofthe front panel A, (see Figs. 4 and 5,) andinto the space between the two plates 1, 2 of the said top panel at itsfront edge there is inserted a channel piece 11 which fits snuglybetween said plates 1, 2 and is 4firmly secured by soldering orotherwise as above described and has a projecting offset loop portion ofpeculiar form of construction to form a vertical back rest 12 for theupper part of the channel piece of the front panel A and to form ahorizontal portion y13 whichv @rests upon the upper end of the channelpiece of the front panel A. From the front lower edge lof the horizontalportion 13 of the channel piece `11 the loop thereof has a. backward andupward sloping portion 14: which rises somewhathigher than the uppersurface of the outerplate 2 of the top' panel E and then has adownwardly extending shoulder-'portionv 15andy is then bent to form v apart of theshank of the channel piece 11.

The said shoulder 'portion 15 of the channel piece 11 forms an endabutment for the outer. plate 2 of the top panel E While the verticalportion 12, as alread3r described,

formsa stop or rest for the inner tace of the front panel A and thehorizontal portion 13 rests on'top of the front panel A. Preferably thespace of the loop formed by the bent portions 13,14,` 15 is filled by acore 16 of metal or other suitable stiliiening material. The inner andouter platesl, 2 of' the front panel A terminate somewhat short of theunder side of the top' panel and into the space between said two platesis inserteda channel plate 17 whichA projects above the plates 1, 2 andforms a part ofthe panel. The -outer face` of the 'upwardly extendingportion of said channel plate/17 above the top of the outer yplate 2 ofthe panel A is formed with a r'entrant bend making an invv'ardlyvinclined `portion 18 and terminating in an outwardlyextending loo-pportion 19.

Said loop portion 19' has a. flat upper face 2O on which Vrests the fiatportion 13 of the channel piece 11. 'A stifening core 21 is insertedinto the loop of the channel piece 17.

, the front edge of the bottom panel F and the rear edge of the toppanel E has a hinge connection with thev top edge of the rear panel B.The rear edge ofthe bottom panel F and the bottom edge of the rearpanelB are constructed and provided with channelpieces correspondingrespectively'to the construction of the front edge of top panel E andtop edge, of the front` panel A. It is therefore deemed unnecessary l torepeat the description and detailed illustration of those portions ofthe backend bottom panels., n

An angular filling memberfll) is formed with an arme-2 which enters andclosesthe end of the channel member 8 of thel top panel Eand has anotherarm 43 which enters and closes the end of the channel member 11 on thefront edge of the panel plate E and the head of said angularmemberlo ffills `the notch at the endsv of said channelplate, as shown in Fig.,1.There are two of these angular filling members /1-0 at diagonallyopposite corners of the upper panel E,

as shown in Fig. 1.. At the other tW'o di? agonally opposite corners ofsaid panel E there are two other angular filling members each having thearms 44, 45, the arm 44 filling the opposite end of' the channel platefrom that which is illed by the arm 42 of the illing member 40, and thearm 45: filling the opposite end of-the channel member 11 from thatwhich is filled by the arme-3.

`When the box `is sel'l up .and squared out it is important tohave somefastening or binding mechanism to fasten together the front edge of thetop panel E and the top edge clips with which the connection can readilybe made and which after the vconnection is Ymade are intended to bebent. down in order Y to make them secure during transportation andwhich can be bent up again to detach. them.= rlhese clips are cheap andit is intended to make them of such material-that to be used once., butwill not stand the necessary bending fora seconduse. ,These clips I aremade out of sheet metal which may be lflexed under the bloW of a hammerbut haS'e they are suiiiciently strong and tough enough little or noresiliencyr so that Vthevwill retain any forni to which they are bent.The

fclip has a body portion 22 which is adapted to lie over the frontinclined face 1l kof the' channel piece 11 and terminates at itslowerend ixi fa,.l iook portion 23 which is adapted to go o'i-ir'the outeredge of the loop portion of the channel piece 1T and hook under the flatunder face of said loop, as shown in Fig. 4. The otherend of the bodyportion of the clip is bent to formy a hook portion' 24 which engages.over the top edge of the channel piece 11 and comes down behind it.

1t also'has an ear 25which extends up at about a right angle to theportion 24 and stands at an acuteangle to,the outer plate 2 of the toppanel. VThe clips` in detached condition areA 'of the shape shown inFig. 4 and in this form theycan' be easily engaged with the two channelmembers 11, 17 as shown in Fig. 4. Then in order tosecure'ly fasten ltheclip in place theportion24is bent down more'sharply as shown Fig. 5 tobring the inner face of the'portio'n 24r in contact with 'the .verticalface 15 of the channel piece 11 and to bring the ear 25 i'at down intocontact with the'v outer face 2 of the panel E. This can be done bytheuse of a hammer or other suitable tool and does not require otherfastening because the metal is of such 4character that it retains itsbent form. Preferably Athe ear 25 is provided with a hole 26 to serve as.an engaging place for a screw driver or other suitable tool to bend upthe 'ear 25 in order to release the clip. Preferably these clips aremade of relatively short length and a plurality of them are used, asshown in Figs. 1 and 2 instead `of employing oneA long clip. 1t isdesirable to make .the clips of rather thin j sheet material and inorder to give them the requisite stiffness it is preferable to stampthem up so as to form ribs 27. Itisalso preferable toy make them of lametal so treated thatit will have a degree of brittleness which willallow the clips to be bent into the sealing form without breaking butwhich will be sufficiently weakened in bending the clip to remove it sothat it cannot be used a second time. r One way of doing this is tomake' a core of relatively soft metal and case hardening the surface, orby tempering it to form what is sometimes termed half hard metal.Similar -clips to those abovedescribed for securingthe contiguous edgesof the front and top together are em ployed for securing together thecontiguous edges ofthe back and bottom. 1n order to prevent `the clipsAfrom sliding off endwise after they have been bent down int-o operativecondition, the channel member 14 is formed with lugs or shoulders 41,`one on either side of each clip, to limit the possible rangev(if-movement. The box when set up is perfectly rigid as theinterengaging portions formed bv thechannel pieces serve to hold thevarious panels in place.

lVhile the sealing clip above described is y thepreferred form of sealto be used, is

obvious that the particular form of seal may be varie-d. Any suitableform of seal is practically destroyed when the seal is opened ,todisengage thekt'wo panels .from

each other comes Within the scope of lthis invention and it is intendedthat the claim shall be construed to cover such variable form of seal.

vThat I claimis:

l. In a folding metallic box, a panel composed of a hollow wall havingalongitudinal indentation to form a channel groove near the edgethereof, in combination with another panel composed of inner and outerplates spaced apart from `each other, and a closure .plate fitted tobridge the space between two adjacent edges of said inner and outerplates of said second panel and having 'a projecting fold which engageswith the said groove in said first mentioned 2. In a folding metallicbox, two opposite parallel panels each composed of a wall having alongitudinal indentation to form a groove near the edge thereof, incombination with a third panel at right angles to and eX- tending fromone to the other of said first two panels, said third panel beingcomposed of inner and outer plates spaced apartfrom each other, andclosure `plates to bridge the space between the innerand outer plates ofsaid third panel at .two opposite edges of the panel and havingprojecting folds which engage with the said groovesin said firsta thirdpanel at right angles to and eX-f tending from one to the other of saidfirst two panels, said third panel being composed of inner and outerpla-tes spaced apart from eachother, and closure plates to bridge thespace between the inner and outer plates of said third panel at twoopposite `edges of the panel and having projecting folds which engagewith the said grooves in said first two panels.

l 4. 1n a folding six sided metallic box, two opposite parallel panelseach having a longitudinal indentation near each of two opposite edgesto form grooves, in combination with two other panelsl parallel witheach other and at right angles with said first two panels, each of saidsecond pair of panels heilig composed of inner and outer-plates spacedapart from each other, closure plates to bridge the space between theinner and outer plates at two opposite'edges of each of said second pairof panels` and having projecting folds which engage with the saidgrooves in said first pair of panels, and a' edges of said first pairwhich are opposite the hinge edges of said first pair of panels having aseparable connection withxthe adjacent edges ofthe third pair of.panels.

In a folding six sided metallic box, two

" opposite parallelV panels each composed.l of

inner and outer plates 4spaced apart from each other, each of saidpanels having a lonf gitudinal indentation near each of two oppositeedgesto form grooves, in combina-v tion with two other panels parallelwith each other and at right. angles withV said first two panels, eachof said second pairof' panels being composed of inner andA outer platesspaced apart from each other, closure plates to bridgeI the spaeebetween the inner and outer plates at two opposite edges of each of saidsecond pair of panels and having projecting folds which engage with thesaid grooves 1n said first pair ofpanels, and a. third pair of panelsopposite to andl parallel with each other, each of said third pair ofpanels being hinged to'both of said second pair of panels on: twoopposite edges,

one of ksaid first pairl of panels being hinged composed of inner andouter plates spaced -to one ofsaid third pair of panels and the .otherof* said yfirst pair of panels being,

hinged to-.theother of said third .pair of` panels, the hingelline ofone of4 said first pair of panels being-diagonally opposite the i hingeline of' the other of sai'clfirst pairpthe edge of each of said thirdlpair ofpanels opposite the hinged .edge having a.channel plate whichcloses. the spacev between the inner and outer .plates and has aprojecting portion formed with an indented groove to serve as a catch,.andyhaving a` portion which serves as a bearing surface for theadjacent panel,each of said first pair of panels having atvtheedgeopposite its hinged .edgea lchannel plate 'which closes `thespace between the inner andouter plates and has a projecting ofl's'etportion which engages the channel plate of the adjacent edge of oneoffsaid third pair of panel plates.

In a folding six sidedrnetal-lic box, two opposite parallel [panels eachycomposed of inner ,and outer plates spaced apart from each other, eachof said panels having'ia lon-l gitudinal lindentation near each of twoopposite edges to forni grooves, 1n comblnatlon 1 with 'two other panelsparallel with-,each other and at right angles with sai-'d firstt'wolpanelsfeach of said second pair of panels' being composed lof inner andouter plates f spaced apart from each other, closure plates to bridgethe space between the inner and `outer plates at two opposite edges ofeach of said second pair of panelsand having projecting folds whichengage with the said grooves in said first pair .of-panels, and a vthird pair of panelsl opposite to and parallel with each other, each ofsaid third pair of panelsbeing hinged to both of said second pair ofpanels ontwo opposite edges,.one of 1 said first pair of panels beinghinged t0 one.

. of said. third pair ofv panels opposite its hinged edge having achannel plate which closes the. space between the inner and outer platesand has a projecting portion formed with an indented groove to serve asa catch,l

and having'a portion which serves as a bearing surface-.for the.adjacent panel, each of said first pair of panels having at the edgeopposite its hinged edge a channel .plate 1 which closes the spacebetween the inner and l outer plates and has a projecting offset pol`-`tion which engages the channel plate ofthe adjacent edge of one of saidthird pair of panel plates, and a plurality of clips which are fitted toengage with the channel plates onjthe said adjacent coperating edges ofthe first and third pair of panels. l 7. In a folding metallic boxhavlng panels apart from each other,.one of said panels being formedwith a rentrant long1tud1nal valley parallel with the edge, and one 4ofthe adjacentcoperating panels being composed of inner and outer wallplatesspaced apart from eachother and having projecting longitudinallyof its edge intermediate the inner and outer plates a tongue memberwhich engages with said valley in the said first panel.

8. In a folding metallic box having panels f composed of innerl andouter, plates spaced lapart from each other, one of said panels lhavinga closure plate attached to the edge thereof, said closure plate beingbent in its inner face near the ed e thereof to form a longitudinalgroove an one of the adjacent coperating panels having inner and outerwall plates spaced apart from each otherv and having in one edge aclosure member formed ofy aplate bent to form a channel piece which isconnected with the inner and outer plates of said panels and having anqutwarly pmieetngjvtengee arranged and cenet netl te engage mth -seidEengtune ln e i ldfeg meteke having; Eaueks; eempesed el@ meer andeuterlates epe-ee hem eaeh. einer, ene e," selc panels hmz-mg e eeemeplete attached te theqedge the-Pee, s iue eeslufe plete, bellngbent mlts inner ieee meer the. efge thereef te ferm e lengtmnek groeve withfielfmg elffes$4 and .ing innen emi exeter wak pates! aperte from eeehether and? having its upper edge e eeeere membee ferme eff e@ pleteben-,tai te iene a peee. xvheh ne een-fA n eeted with the mer andeaterpetes. ef

ling tengue errengef emi eenetxfuete te engefge with s :nc Eengmrenegrewe m the sjei first pemek, tongue beiegj'fermed with e Semifeyndreeefge wie a, folding' meekie bex panels composed ei meer andi: enterlates, speeedi apart: frema eeeh @ehem one e; Smil, panels; having eehexmek piece nsexteek and. seewfecl the epeee beweee the sartd inner MEenkels plantee et, @he entera eege thereof- .Sznilc emnnel lehrte beingberrtf te ferm its immer fece meer the enter @dige thereof! ze Sheetmer-eek ever the. eaten? end et? l seid. ehennek en@ bentee ferm a gmevewhich ffies, im@ the grefwe in said elxennek weee, im; einnehmen@ misezu pamek eompesef meer eed?. emmen pentes member wheh tsj between inner:m

outer panel patee and has am eetwznrky ex-A tending' eifsee per-*tienwith an irnwerey ex= tending bemwfhleh makes we Sheueele, te

bear L espeetgvey egeilnst:Y the 'edge and inneefece of' atjaeenepanel?, comhnetien enethev sheuihen" Thiel each ether, ehzmne membegeme-'e spaces. between @lee seid; mee-enel f phes en me epxeeee edges, efmelypemef* with a' eepexetg pene eempese ef two; pemlkek ,platessleeeedeI e rt. from ether" ende ehanne piece fit e inte the edge effseid pene and having an eetwemy extem1ling portie which engages. mthseqif @we Sheuders the ehmneli peee in saudi fiest' pee; Seid. ehainnepeee eff. @he rfse panel 'ellelk farmed with am; elm-Sme Sholder-Iwhiieh is; aeeptee te engage with one hoekv emi eff a hoek shaped ep emithe, eben-Lek pileee eff the Seemed. meek being' fermed with :irenerent, bende fermng e sheeldep w-hlh ile adepte@ te engage wfeh me@there heele em et? Seid; eip..

1 2'` Xn e fedngs meeele bex, we eee-pen'LA ating panee femmine" me edieeegri ses; ei? the bex, one seid? pen mamme: .et the @ge z mejeeem: theSeid eee emlmggc pene-k un @netwerk-My exteneing exif-eet nemen ferme@W'h. e beud whieh makes e .sheamkdee te heels' against the edge @ifsmigd edyeeem veeel? me' 'im beers: @getest the,

innere face' of seid? Mh@ en the @mee fznee e slmwlden which ilsexempted te, engage wit-fle a, eline, Seidl ee ating panel@ having amits, edfge wLmeh I Si e@ Tee cenit; te.- seief, reepenek m'eeeting:pelftem which has al referment bee@ its ermee eee te engage with theSeme @Eile whien the seidf rst @web centi peneli m e were@ bex, e @webempese ef inner and meer peles egreeedl. animee ieemg t im xn-gehemember tie 5H; the 7m-191 femflee at he @ermee ehe pennelli by? two,adiacenze ehzmne membem in testmelev whezeef alI-x my' sigmrtmfe..

in presence ai? me *erit1m:fsees l SAMUEL B.. Witnesses: l.

A. @eeen-mm Amen: Menmserr.,

